Antenna release mechanism



J. H. HAMMOND, JR

ANTENNA RELEASE MECHANISM Nov. 26, 1946.

Filed Feb. 15, 1928 INVENTOR.

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.v. I Lm 2uo 2 M11 Buck inw 0m mr OWN Patented Nov. 26, 1946 amaze EHQE ANTENNA RELEASE MECHANISM John Hays Hammond, Jr.,."Glucester, Mass. Application February 15, 1928, Serial No. 254,54 1

Claims. 1

r This invention relates to the control of moving bodies by radiant energy.

A principal object of the invention relates to the provision of means for controlling the course of the torpedo or other moving vessel by radiant energy transmitted from a distant point.

In accordance with this object a radiant energy responsive device is provided and in order to improve the eificacy of the torpedo in attacking an enemy battleship or other target, the energy responsive device is maintained inactive until the torpedo has come into proximity with the target. The torpedo thus moves at maximum speed over most of its course, without being impeded by the trailing energy responsive device.

An important feature of the invention relates to the provision of automatically operable means controlled by the extent of movement of the torpedo for releasing an electrically insulated conductor from the moving body. After having been released the conductor automatically takes its position outwardly of the moving body so as to be responsive to radiant energy transmitted thereto.

Other objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section of a torpedo embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the distance gear of Fig. 1 arranged for releasing the antenna; and

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the stern of Fig. 1 showing the antenna bob in its initial position.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

7 In the following description and claims, parts, characteristic features and functions will be identified by specific means for convenience of expression, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts or equivalent construction as the art will permit.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a water borne body forming a carrier of explosives, such asa torpedo 29, having a water tight torpedo hull 2! and arranged to be propelled by a pair of propellers 22, 22 rotatably mounted at the stern of the torpedo hull. The propellers 22, 22 are mounted on concentric shafts, respectively, including an outer shaft 23 and an inner shaft 2 3. The shafts are operatively connected to a driving means such as a conventional compressed air turbine 25, whereby the propellers are rotated to drive the torpedo forward, that is towards the 2 right of Fig. 1. The turbine 25 is supplied with actuating fluid from a source of compressed fluid medium, such as a supply pipe 25.

Horizontal rudders for varying the direction of movement of the torpedo about its horizontal transverse axis may also be provided in a wellknown manner, but as such rudders as well as depth control devices for controlling the same are well known, it is thought that a more detailed description thereof is unnecessary herein.

For varying the direction of movement of the torpedo 29 about a vertical axis so as to steer the torpedo in azimuth, there is provided a two blade rudder 3U pivotally mounted on a rudder post 3i having operative connection by means of the connecting rod 32 with a stabilizing mechanism 33. The stabilizing mechanism 33 includes a controller or gyroscope as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 252,716, filed February 8, 1928, U. S. Patent No. 1,806,346, Paravane torpedo, for automatically controlling the rudders to cause the torpedo to maintain a predetermined direction of movement. The course directing means is also controlled bya steering mechanism's l, operatively connected to the stabilizer 33by a shaft 35, which corresponds to the shaft 85 of said copending application. The steering mechanism 36 is in turn controlled by a radio receiver shown diagrammatically as at 36. The radio receiver 36 may also control adesired utility indicated as at 31. Thus, it will be seen that the course maintaining means may be automatically controlled by the gyroscope, or manually controlled by radiant energy transmitted from a distant point.

For receiving radiant energy to operate the receiver 36 there is provided an insulated antenna 40 a portion of which is initially wound on a storage reel or spool ll. is journaled in a pair of brackets such as 42 secured to the inner surface of the torpedo hull 2|. The inner end of the antenna 40 is terminated on a collecting ring 63 with which there engages a contact brush is mounted on an insulating bracket 45, forming part of the radio receiver 36. The contact brush 4d thus forms an electrical connection from the antenna 3?] to the radio receiver 36.

For guiding the antenna (19 there is provided a tube 59 extending into the interior of a casing positioned within the torpedo hull. Positioned within the casing 5| there is provided a fixed block 53 and a relatively movable block 54 forming a clutch for engaging the antenna fill. The

' movable block Ed is mounted on a sliding rod 55 The hub of the spool ilextending through the wall of the casing 5| and through a boss 56 mounted on the outer surface of the casing. The rod 55 also extends through an aperture in a pivoted arm 51 pivotally I mounted as at 58 to a lug 59 forming an extento maintain the pivoted arm 51 in engagement with the end of the bell crank lever H. A second spring 15 is mounted within the casing 5| on the rod 55 for initially maintaining the movable clutch member 54 against the antenna 49 thus effectively securing the antenna against longitudinal movement. Thus it will be seen that the bell crank lever 7| serves as a latch for the pivoted arm 51. The pivoted bell crank lever TI is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a cam wheel 19 forming part of a distance gear controlled by movement of the torpedo. A spring 11 is secured at one end to one arm of the bell crank lever 7| and at the other end to the bracket 13.

For actuating the distance gear a pinion 89 is rigidly secured to a rotatable shaft 8| in position to mesh continually with a driving gear 82 secured to the outer drive shaft 23. Thus the shaft 8| is rotated in proportion to the extent of movement of the torpedo through the water. One end portion of the shaft 8| is journaled in bearings in thebracket 13 and there is secured thereto a worm 83 for driving the worm wheel 84 at a reduced rate of speed. The worm wheel 84 is mounted on a shaft 85 having a second worm 86 for engaging a second worm wheel 91. The Worm wheel 8'l is mounted on a rotatable shaft 98 having a third worm 89 for engaging a third worm wheel 99. The last-mentioned worm wheel 99 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 9| which terminates in a difierential ring wheel 92 forming part of a differential gear 93. The differential 93 serves as an operative connection between the drive shaft 9| and a driven shaft 94, the latter being mounted for rotation in a bearing mounted in a lateral extension 95'integral with the bracket 13. The cam 16 is secured to the shaft 94 as by being keyed thereto and is provided with a notch or depression 96. The respective end of the bell crank lever H is provided with a tooth 91 for engaging the notch 95 of the cam wheel 19 after the cam wheel has been rotated a predetermined distance by the action of the distance gear.

For adjusting the cam wheel 16 to a predetermined position independently of the distance gear so as to cause operation of the antenna release mechanism after a predetermined variable extent of movement of the torpedo, the differential gear 93 is connected through a pair of bevel gears |9|, I92 and thus to a rotatable shaft N13. The shaft I93 is journaled in a lateral extension I94 forming part of the bracket 13 and extends through a fluid pipe packing gland I95 in the wall of the torpedo hull 2|. The outboard end of the shaft I93 terminates in a manually operable key I96. By adjusting the key I99 into desired position before the torpedo is discharged the antenna release mechanism may be caused to be actuated at any desired point in the travel of the torpedo.

The antenna 49 extends through an add tional guiding tube (see Figs. 2 and 3) and through a housing 2 preferably positioned at the stern of the torpedo. The antenna terminates in a bob ||3 which preferably includes a mass 4 of insulating material for effectively preventing undesired connection of the antenna to the water of the sea. The bob 3 is secured to the antenna 49 so that it will be pulled apart therefrom by a force less than the tensile strength of the antenna. The bob 3 is positioned initially in a recess H5 formed in the housing 2 and there is provided a conducting passage H6 in the housing H2 for the flow of fluid into the recess I I5 when the torpedo 29 is moved forwardly.

In operation, when it is desired to discharge the torpedo, the key I96 is adjusted as may appear to be necessary to secure the best results. This adjustment will usually be made in accordance with instructions received from the plotting room and will be such as to permit the operation of the torpedo through a desired distance before the cam 16 causes the notch 96 to register with the tooth 9'1.

Upon the torpedo being discharged, the source of fluid medium 26 is connected to the driving turbine 35 and the torpedo is accordingly propelled through the water by the propellers 22, 22 operating at high speed. The shaft 9| is correspondingly rotated, and this movement is communicated at a reduced speed to the shaft and returns at a still greater reduced speed to the shafts 88, 9| in sequence and to the shaft 94 thus turning the cam wheel 16.

When the torpedo starts upon its course, it is automatically maintained thereon by means of the gyroscopic stabilizer 33 and any deviation therefrom causes a corrective movement of the vertical rudders 39 so as to cause the torpedo to resume its original direction of movement.

The cam wheel It continues to turn until the tooth 9| registers with the notch 96. The bell crank lever H is then rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2 under control of the spring H. The pivoted arm 51 is unlatched and is forced by the compression spring 14 into engagement with the collar 10, thus moving the rod 55 and the movable clutch member 54 in a downward direction. This movement releases the antenna 49. As the torpedo is moving forward a pressure of the water in which the torpedo is submerged is exerted through the passage ||6 upon the bob H3. As the antenna 49 is now released the bob H3 is disengaged from the housing ||2 carrying with it the antenna 49 which is unreeled from the storage wheel 4|. Thus the antenna is paid out and takes its position behind the torpedo. The bob ||3 thus forms a trailer for the torpedo and the antenna 49 serves to tow the bob through the water at the same time serving to receive radiant energy transmitted from a distant station.

The signal energy may preferably be of high frequency and may be transmitted from a radio transmitting station of conventional form. By transmitting a succession of signals the receiver 39 may be controlled to actuate the steering mechanism 34 selectively so as to cause the course of the torpedo to be modified in a desired manner under the control of a distant operator.

Should the bob I I3 become snarled in seaweed or other foreign object, it will be pulled loose before sufficient force has been developed to break the antenna.

The torpedo may be thus directed with great accuracy into contact with an enemy battleship or other target and upon coming in contact therewith the explosive charge is detonated in a conventional manner well-known in the art.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an efficient radio-dynamic torpedo which may be caused to move at high speed until it is in close proximity to the enemys battle line and then the antenna is automatically positioned so as to be responsive to radiant energy. Radiant energy impulses are thereafter utilized for registering accurate hits upon the target.

The invention upon which this application is based is broader than the specific embodiment shown and described for the purpose of illustrating at least one of the ways in which it may be employed. The scope of the invention is therefore to be understood as not being limited by the present specific description. I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an antenna for vessels, a storage reel upon which the antenna is initially positioned, and means for releasing said antenna at a predetermined time and means for adjusting said last mentioned means whereby said predetermined time may be varied.

2. The combination with a torpedo, of an antenna responsive to radiant energy, clamping means including a movable jaw for initially maintaining said antenna wholly within the confines of said torpedo, and means controlled by the extent of movement of said torpedo for releasing said jaw means.

3. In a vessel adapted to be controlled by radiant energy, the combination with a movable element responsive to radiant energy, a clutch including a movable jaw for initially holding said element in fixed position, driving means for said vessel, and means operatively connected to said driving means for releasing said clutch.

4. In combination with an antenna for vessels, a storage reel upon which the antenna is initially positioned, means for restraining the movement of said antenna from said reel, and manually adjustable means to modify the action of said restraining means.

5. The combination with a torpedo, of an antenna responsive to radiant energy, means for initially maintaining said antenna Wholly within the confines of said torpedo, means controlled by the extent of movement of said torpedo for releasing said maintaining means, and a key arranged to be adjusted in advance of the discharge of the torpedo to modify the action of said releasin means.

6. In a vessel adapted to be controlled by radiant energy, the combination with a movable element responsive to radiant energy, a clutch for initially holding said element in fixed position,

driving means for said vessel, means operatively connected to said drivingmeans for releasing said clutch, a differential gear interposed in the connection between said clutch and said releasing means, and means for variably adjusting said diiferential to modify the action of the releasing means.

'7. In combination a self propelled craft, an antenna, a bob attached to one end of said antenna, a rearwardly open recess on said craft for initially holding said bob and a fluid conductin passage extending from said recess to the outside of said craft in such a direction as to cause the forward motion of said craft to tend to urge fluid through said fluid conducting passage in such a direction as to release said bob.

8, In a self propelled craft, an antenna, means for initially maintaining said antenna wholly within said craft, a buoyant element attached to the outer end of said antenna and initially partially exposed throughout its length to the action of the medium through which the craft is moving, means to direct a stream of said medium against the forward portion of said element to separate said element from said craft and means acting directly on said antenna to prevent paying out said antenna.

9. The combination with a self-propelled craft, of an antenna, means for supporting said antenna wholly within said craft, clutch means to grip said antenna to hold it against paying out, a bob attached to the end of said antenna, an externally streamlined receptacle open on its upper side to receive said bob, said antenna constituting the sole means for retaining said bob in said receptacle, propelling means for said craft, me ns actuated by the propelling means to release said clutch means a predetermined time after said propelling means starts to operate, and a forwardly extending passage to direct upon said bob a stream of the medium through which said craft moves to dislodge said bob when said clutch is released.

10. The combination with a self-propelled craft, of an antenna carried thereby, means to support said antenna within said craft, clutch means to grip said antenna, a bob attached to the end of said antenna and exposed throughout its length to the medium through which the craft passes but not subjected to dislodging pressure by such exposure, said antenna constituting the sole means to retain said bob in position, propelling means for said craft, means driven by said propelling means to release said clutch, and means to apply fluid pressure directly to the front of said bob to dislodge said bob when said clutch is released.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR. 

